Top 10 Greatest Players Of All-Time: Atletico Madrid

Club Atlético de Madrid famously known as Atletico Madrid are one of the powerhouses of European football. Despite the duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid domestically, the Colchoneros have been one of main instigators in trying to break it down. 

Atletico Madrid have registered 11 La Liga titles and 10 Copa del Rey titles along with two UEFA Europa League titles and a European Cup Winner’s Cup so far. One of the reasons Atlético Madrid have achieved so much in the past 100 years is because of their players, who have made the club what it is today.

Thus, in this article, we have decided to come up with a list of the 10 best Atlético Madrid players ever, and to do so, we’ve taken a very specific set of criteria into account, which are as follows:

• Impact
• Longevity
• Statistics
• Trophies

#10 Carlos Aguilera

Juan Carlos Aguilera Martín is fourth on the list of all-time appearance makers for Atlético Madrid. Born in Madrid, Aguilera made his debut in 1988 for the club and helped them win back-to-back Copa del Rey titles. He used to play as a right wing-back and his attacking prowess meant he chipped in with vital goals from time to time. 

The Spanish International left the club in 1993 and returned after 3 years in 1996 to play until the end of his career with Atletico. Alongside Fernando Torres, he also helped the club to win Segunda División and get a place back among the big boys in La Liga. In his 454 appearances for the club, he found the net 29 times making him one of the greatest right-backs this club has ever seen. 

#9 Antoine Griezmann

A quick, modern, and versatile left-footed forward, with an eye for goal, Antoine Griezmann has been one of the best players in world football for over a decade. He is capable of occupying several offensive positions in or behind the main attacking line, due to his technical skills, vision, ability to drop deep and link-up play between the forward and midfielders. 

Despite a lucrative deal away to league rivals Barcelona, the Frenchman is back in the Spanish capital and has picked up where he left off before making the switch. In less than 400 appearances for the club, he has 184 goals across all competitions, making him the club’s leading goal-scorer. 

Since joining the club, Griezmann has helped Atlético win three major trophies, namely the UEFA Europa League, a UEFA Super Cup and a Supercopa de España. 

#8 Fernando Torres

Another Atlético Madrid youth academy product, Fernando Torres, or El Niño as referred to by the locals, will go down in history as one of the most influential and best strikers this club has ever produced. 

Given the tag of a local hero, Fernando Torres helped the club to get back in the La Liga in 2002 by winning the Segunda División. During his first spell with the club he scored 83 goals before moving to the Premier League with Liverpool where he finally delivered on his untapped potential. 

However, after a torrid spell at Chelsea, El Niño returned to the Wanda Metropolitan in 2015 to add a few more to his name bringing the tally to 121. Torres played a crucial role in the club winning their second UEFA Europa League in 2018. He finally left the club in 2018 to finish his career in the Japanese League.

#7 Adrián Escudero

Another one-club man, in the career span of 13 years, Adrián Escudero played for only one club and that club was Atlético Madrid. After starting his youth career with Banco Hispano Americano, Escudero joined Atlético in 1945. The Spain international was one of the most deadly strikers in European football at the time. 

The Spanish International found the net 169 times in his span of 287 appearances for the club, making him the second all-time highest scorer of the club before Antoine Griezmann. Escudero helped the club win two La Liga titles during the early 1950s as well as a Copa Eva Duarte trophy in 1951. 

#6 Juanfran

Former Spain international Juanfran was considered one of the best right-backs of his time during his stint with Atlético Madrid. Following his arrival on a small transfer fee of just over €4m from Osasuna, the defender soon became a regular starter for Atletico Madrid and played a major role in winning the domestic league in 2014.

A former winger during his Real Madrid and Osasuna days, Juanfran usually played as a right-back for Diego Someone’s team. While an accomplished defender, his biggest threat was his ability to get forward and provide accurate crosses for teammates inside the box. 

In the total span of 8 years in the club, he made 355 appearances for Atlético, winning the 2014 La Liga title and two UEFA Europa Leagues as notable silverware among others. However, Juanfran left the club in 2019 to play for São Paulo where he finished his career. 

#5 Adelardo Rodríguez

Born in Badajoz, Spain, Rodríguez made his debut for Atlético Madrid in 1959. He was a proper attacking midfielder with the ability to find the back of the net in crucial moments. He found the net 113 times for the club in the span of his 17 years long tie with Atletico Madrid.  

As one of the linchpins and the longest serving players of the club, Rodríguez helped the club win three La Liga titles, five Copa del Rey trophies and an Intercontinental Cup, along with a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Rodríguez is second in the list of the highest appearance makers for the club with 553 games in total, only behind Koke. For his invaluable contribution, Adelardo Rodríguez will go down as one of the all-time greats of the club.

#4 Koke

Jorge Resurrección Merodio, famously known as Koke is one of those players who was born in Madrid and played for Madrid. Developed under the youth academy of Atlético Madrid Koke has been ever loyal to the club making 645 appearances for the club and still counting.

The Spanish international is a versatile player who can play across various positions in the midfield. With his flexible style of play, Koke has helped the team challenge the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent years and win two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, a Supercopa de España, two UEFA Europa Leagues, and two UEFA Super Cups.

#3 Gabi

Gabriel Fernández Arenas, notably known as Gabi, was the heartbeat of the midfield for Atlético Madrid. While it was the forwards that usually marked the headlines with their goals, it was the likes of Gabi that created the chances to score one. 

Known for his tackling ability as well as his combativeness and hard work, Gabi could both break down opposition attacks and dictate play with the ball with equal effectiveness. He was also known to be proficient when in possession, capable of delivering through balls and distributing the ball at both long and short lengths.

He made a remarkable 413 appearances for the club and registered his name as one of the greatest in the history of the club. He helped Atlético win a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey, a Supercopa de España, two UEFA Europa League, and two UEFA Super Cup.

#2 Luis Aragonés

The former Spanish national team head coach was a successful central midfielder and a free-kick specialist. During his decade-long stay with the club, Aragonés also became the club’s all-time goalscorer with 172 goals, only bettered by Antoine Griezmann who broke the record in 2024. 

As a player, the Spanish midfielder won three La Liga titles and two Copa Del Rey’s as well as finishing runners-up to Bayern Munich in the 1974 European Cup final. 

Soon after his retirement, Aragonés was given the Atlético Madrid managerial role, which he held for 15 years across four different spells. As a manager, he won one La Liga title, three Copa del Reys, one Supercopa de España, one Segunda División and one Intercontinental Cup. 

#1 Diego Godín

An intelligent centre-back, Diego Godín was primarily known for his leadership, positioning and calm composure, which allowed him to organise his back-line, read the game and anticipate plays. Despite his lack of pace or significant athleticism, Godín was regarded by pundits as one of the best and most consistent defenders in the world, and as one of the leading centre-backs of his generation. 

The 38-year-old Uruguayan was the bedrock of a resolute Atlético defence under Diego Simeone. Godín played a major role in achieving huge success for the club during his eight year stint. The defender not only played his part in the line of defence but also netted the ball 17 times. 

He was always the first choice on the team sheet under Simeone. Under his leadership, the club also won a La Liga, a Copa del Rey, and a Supercopa de España, two UEFA Europa Leagues, and three UEFA Super Cups.